MechWarrior Living Legends
Encyclopedia
Mechwarrior: Living Legends (also known as MW:LL or MWLL) is an award-winning, fan-created, multiplayer mod
, based in the Battletech
universe, and using CryEngine 2 as its engine; it is one of the few mods based on the Battletech universe (and its supporting Intellectual property
) to have been sanctioned by Microsoft
- who currently (as of 2011) owns the rights to the Mechwarrior video-game franchise - and additionally received pre-SDK support and sanctioning directly from CryTek
, producers of the games' engine. On December 26, 2009, an open beta (version 0.1.0) was released via BitTorrent and other distribution methods. Because the project changes the play-style and feel of the game it is originally based on (Crysis
and Crysis Warhead
) so completely as to be unrecognizable in comparison, it is billed as a "full-conversion" mod, since little to no trace of the original game's art or play-style (besides the most basic menus seen when first loading the game) exists any longer within MW:LL.
and continue development on the CryEngine 2. Not long after the switch, German Crysis developer Crytek announced that the team would be one of only four to receive the Crysis Software Development Kit (SDK) in advance.
With the release of open beta version 0.4.0, support for Crysis Wars was added. With the release of version 0.5.0, the team only supports Crysis Wars.
The project was the recipient of the ModDB 2009 Mod of the Year award and - due to rules preventing one mod from winning the same award twice - an Honorable Mention in 2010.
. The game is limited strictly to the first person
point of view, and focuses largely on vehicular combat
, including the franchise hallmark Battlemech. Additionally, it is the first game in the MechWarrior series to allow players to operate a wide range of vehicles in addition to 'Mechs including tanks, hovercraft
, VTOL
's, aerospace fighters, and the Elemental powered battlearmor.
Mod (computer gaming)
Mod or modification is a term generally applied to personal computer games , especially first-person shooters, role-playing games and real-time strategy games. Mods are made by the general public or a developer, and can be entirely new games in themselves, but mods are not standalone software and...
, based in the Battletech
BattleTech
BattleTech is a wargaming and science fiction franchise launched by FASA Corporation in 1984, acquired by WizKids in 2000, and owned since 2003 by Topps. The series began with FASA's debut of the board game BattleTech by Jordan Weisman and L...
universe, and using CryEngine 2 as its engine; it is one of the few mods based on the Battletech universe (and its supporting Intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
) to have been sanctioned by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
- who currently (as of 2011) owns the rights to the Mechwarrior video-game franchise - and additionally received pre-SDK support and sanctioning directly from CryTek
Crytek
Crytek is a German video game company founded in 1999 by three Turkish brothers: Cevat, Avni and Faruk Yerli. Crytek's main headquarters are in Frankfurt, Germany, with five other studios in Kiev, Budapest, Nottingham, Sofia and Seoul. The company is best known for developing the game Far Cry and...
, producers of the games' engine. On December 26, 2009, an open beta (version 0.1.0) was released via BitTorrent and other distribution methods. Because the project changes the play-style and feel of the game it is originally based on (Crysis
Crysis
Crysis is a science fiction first-person shooter video game developed by Crytek , published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, and released in November 2007. It is the first game of a trilogy. A separate game entitled Crysis Warhead was released on September 12, 2008, and follows similar...
and Crysis Warhead
Crysis Warhead
Crysis Warhead is a science fiction first-person shooter computer game developed by the studio Crytek Budapest, Hungary, and published by Electronic Arts. Crysis Warhead is a stand-alone expansion game and does not require Crysis installed to play...
) so completely as to be unrecognizable in comparison, it is billed as a "full-conversion" mod, since little to no trace of the original game's art or play-style (besides the most basic menus seen when first loading the game) exists any longer within MW:LL.
History
Mechwarrior: Living Legends is based in the Battletech universe and began as a mod for Quake Wars. However, for a number of reasons, the team decided to switch to CrysisCrysis
Crysis is a science fiction first-person shooter video game developed by Crytek , published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, and released in November 2007. It is the first game of a trilogy. A separate game entitled Crysis Warhead was released on September 12, 2008, and follows similar...
and continue development on the CryEngine 2. Not long after the switch, German Crysis developer Crytek announced that the team would be one of only four to receive the Crysis Software Development Kit (SDK) in advance.
With the release of open beta version 0.4.0, support for Crysis Wars was added. With the release of version 0.5.0, the team only supports Crysis Wars.
The project was the recipient of the ModDB 2009 Mod of the Year award and - due to rules preventing one mod from winning the same award twice - an Honorable Mention in 2010.
Gameplay
MW:LL is a network multi-player only game with no single-player mode. As such, it has no specific story and does not seek to establish canonCanon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
. The game is limited strictly to the first person
First person (video games)
In video games, first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. In many cases, this may be the viewpoint from the cockpit of a vehicle. Many different genres have made use of first-person perspectives, ranging from adventure games to flight...
point of view, and focuses largely on vehicular combat
Vehicular combat game
Vehicular combat games are typically video or computer games where the primary focus of play concerns automobiles or other vehicles, normally armed with guns or other weaponry, attempting to destroy vehicles controlled by the CPU or by opposing players...
, including the franchise hallmark Battlemech. Additionally, it is the first game in the MechWarrior series to allow players to operate a wide range of vehicles in addition to 'Mechs including tanks, hovercraft
Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
, VTOL
VTOL
A vertical take-off and landing aircraft is one that can hover, take off and land vertically. This classification includes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters and other aircraft with powered rotors, such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and tiltrotors...
's, aerospace fighters, and the Elemental powered battlearmor.